DirectX
Collection of multimedia related APIs on Microsoft platforms
Summary
Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with "Direct", such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay, DirectSound, and so forth. The name DirectX was coined as a shorthand term for all of these APIs and soon became the name of the collection. When Microsoft later set out to develop a gaming console, the X was used as the basis of the name Xbox to indicate that the console was based on DirectX technology. The X initial has been carried forward in the naming of APIs designed for the Xbox such as XInput and the Cross-platform Audio Creation Tool (XACT), while the DirectX pattern has been continued for Windows APIs such as Direct2D and DirectWrite.
Originally created by 146.169.1.xxx
9/25/2001, 10:03:33 AM
Modified
6/1/2026, 12:24:07 PM
Recent revisions
Corrected some of the instances where it is talking about Direct3D. Removed the XP DirectX compatibility text, as it's covered by the release history table.
/* Components */
removed link that does not have the original version archived and instead leads to some weird crappy page
Rescuing 5 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.9.5
/* Version history */
/* Version history */
/* Version history */ Restored the previous date, and added a note regarding the version.
/* Version history */
/* Version history */ Was first released with NT 4, hence changed the date to the NT 4's GA release date
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/* Version history */ Changed it to the currect working URL to denote June 2010 was the last release.
/* Version history */ There is nothing in-between these releases
/* Version history */ Better references
/* Version history */ Actual release dates and more information regarding the DX9 redistributables
/* Version history */
